Coin-chute.



G. W. PETER. COIN CHUTE. APPLIOATIOI; Hmm JULY s1, moe.v

ihtd July 27, 1909.

ll-IIIIIIII [71 U67? .far

owye gferf- GEORGE W. PETER, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

COIN-CHUTE .Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 27, i909. n

Application filed .Tuly 31, 1908.v Serial No. 446,227.

To all 'whom tt may concern:

Be it known thatl, GEORGE W..YPETER, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, Missouri, have invented a new and useful Coin-Chute, of which the following. is a specilication.

This invention relates to coin chutes for use in connection with various 'kinds of coin controlled devices; and has for its object to produce an improved coin chute in which the coins, as inserted in the chute, will be held in plain sight, thereby `preventing the use oi slugs and other dishonest devices for cheating the machine.

Other objects will appear from the `detailed description, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the coin chute showing a number of coins therein exposed to view. Fig. 2 is a view of the mechanism in the chute, the front of the chute being removed to disclose'k the mechanism. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the upper or entering end oll the chute showing a catch device whereby removal of acoin is prevented alter being started into the chute. `Fig.4is a top viewof the chute. Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view taken approximately on the line a-a of Fig. 1. f

The case of' the chute comprises a back portion 1 and a front portion v@fastened and held together in any suitable manner, such, for instance, as by one or more screws 3 passing through the back and into threaded holes in the front portion. The case is to be attached and supported in any suitable manner in connection with the machine with which it is to be used. A chute is formed between the baclr and 'l'ront portionsby means of two ribs 4 and 5, the rib 5 being the shorter of the two. Each of' said ribs has a flange 6, said flanges extending toward each other, and constituting the confining means whereby the coins are held between the ribs. ln the top of the oase a slot 7 is formed, said slot opening into the space between the ribs 4 and 5 and being the entrance thereto. The slot 7 is of proper size to admit the coins intended t0 be used with the machine. ln the construction shown the mechanism is arranged for live 'cent pieces, but, of course, it is merely a question of proportions and chutes ol' similar construction may be provided for use with various other coins.

A lever 8, pivoted at 9, has one end projecting through a slot in the rib 5 into the chute formed by the ribs 4 and 5 and the opposite or lowerk end of said lever is provided with an upturned extension l() which is actuated outwardly by one arm 11 ol'l a wire spring vwhioh is wound around and held on studs 12. The other end 13 of said spring extendsunder the horizontal arm of' an angular member 14, thereby supporting said member in such position that a coin inserted into the chute will be stopped and supported thereby. The vertical arm of the member 14 operates through a hole in a block 15 and rests upon the end of the upturned portion 10 of the lever 8. A lever 16 is pivoted at 17 and has its upper end extending through a slot in the rib 4 at a somewhat lower altitude than the kupper end of the lever 8, and its lower end extending into a slot in the rib 4 just above the horizontal arm ol' the member 14. There is sullicient spaoe between the lower end of the rib 4 yand the member 14 when the latter is in its depressed position to permit the passage of ya coin under said rib 4, and thence outwardly through a slot 18 in the back part 1, a flange 19being plrovided tol deflect thecoins through said s ot. l i

The chute is of sufficient length to contain a number of coins, which, when in the chute are supported one upon the otherras shown, the lowermost, coin resting on the horizontal arm of the member 14. ln the embodiment shownthe chute is arranged of' a size t0 contain three five cent pieces. If another coin be forced into the chute it will, at the same time, oscillate the lever 8 moving the .end 10 thereof from under the members 14 and.

force the other' coins downward thereby pushing the member 14 downward in opposition to the spring arm13. The coin entering the chute has, ty this time, oscillated the lever 16 causing the lower end I thereof to force the lowermost coin laterally into the slot 18 behind the deliecting flange 1). By this time the entering coin Vwill have passed below the upper end of the lever 8 which will be ushed back to its idle position by the spring 11 as soon as the member 14 is raised by the spring 13. All the coins in the chute are visible through a slot 20 in the front oi' the case so that the kpresence of slugs and other devices for cheating the machine may readily be detected and guarded against.

ln the upper end 0i' the front portion 2 a acY lli

, above the rim. A

kcoin will cause the ball to bindin the nar'- r(Fig. 3). Upon this .arcuate .ortion of the spring a sphericalbody 'or bal 24 iscarried, said ball extending into the chute.'

edge thereof pushes against ther ball an( forces it and the spring fartherinto the space 21. When the rim ol'thecoin passes below the ball the latter is forced against thecoin Attempt to I withdraw the rower upper portion of the space 21, therim ol the coinlifting the ballandthereby holding the coin to prevent-its withdrawal.

I am aware that there may be variations from the arrangement' andV construction shown and described withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope ofthe invention. I do not restrict myselfito the exact arrangement or construction but Y What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: c

1L -Mechanism-o'l' the character' described comprising a visible chute having an outlet opening, a spring-held member, means' for locking said member in position topreven't coins from passing through the outlet open#v ing of the chute, and means for releasing said spring-held member, substantiallyV as specified.

2. Aacoin chute comprising a; chute arranged to hold a coin-and havingan outlet, a member adjacent tov-said outlet, a spring holding'said member, a levenlocking said memben'and an extensionfon said leverpro# jecting into the chute adjacent to thev entrance to the chute whereby acoin entering n Whenlae` coin is started into the chute the enterin" thefchuitefwill operate-the lever and release the aforesaid member.

3. The combination with a coin chute having entering and'outlet openings, of a lever having one end projecting into the chute near the entering opening and the other end terminatingadjacent to the o utlet'opening whereby a coin ,entering the chute will oscllllate the leverand swing the latter end thereberb'eing actuated by` the coins inthe chuteto permit Y saidf coins to pass', respectively, through the outlet opening; means-for unlockingA said .locked member and a lever='operable to .fpush the vcoinsthrough the outlet opening, substantially as specied.' 5. In' afcoin chute havinganentering and an outlet opening, aj'lever having one endin the chutenear the inlet opening whereby said lever will be oscillatedby the coin entering therch'ute andrthe otherend projecting towardfthe outlet opening, Aa locked element partiallyl closing' the outlet opening, and means-for unlocIzing said element and 'thereby. releaseonecoin from the chute each time a coin isinserted Vinto the chute.

In .testimeny'whereof; .Ihereunto ahxtmy signature to i thisvspecilication this 27th day oi'July, 1908',- in the'presence ofV two wit'- nesses. Y

GEORGE PETER; [L. s.] Witnesses:

D.' T. MASON,

l-.DWINA MAssAa fi-S 

